Fowl1, n.
n. [A-S. fugol, fugel, O. Sax. fugal, Goth. fugls, Icel. & Dan. fugl, Sw. fogel, O. H. Ger. fogal, N. H. Ger. & D. vogel, allied to A-S. fleógan, to fly, O. H. Ger. flioğan, Ger. fliegen, imp. flog, so that it originally signifies the flying animal.
Sense 1. A vertebrate animal having two legs and two wings, and covered with feathers or down; a bird.
Like a flight of fowl Scattered by winds and high tempestuous gusts. Shak.
Sense 2. A barn-door fowl; a cock or hen.
☞ The word is sometimes used collectively; more frequently in the plural.
Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air. Gen. i. 26.